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The flip side, is the premium bike manufactures which have all gone to a custom part model, particularly with mountain bikes. Every couple years the wheel size

The flip side, is the premium bike manufactures which have all gone to a custom part model, particularly with mountain bikes. Every couple years the wheel size changes (try getting a 26" mountain bike these days, even for smaller riders), axle changes, bottom bracket, head tube, shifters, chain dimensions, rear hub sizes, etc, etc, etc. Then after 5-10 years the parts become unavailable. So, your premium bike might last longer, but when it breaks your screwed, time to go ebay shopping for a used part. I don't even think the manufactures know how to deal with this. Trek gives people lifetime frame guarantees, but after 2-3 years they can't actually provide a replacement frame that works with the bike components. So, its become like the 120+ month battery guarantees, they know its not going to last 120 months, the scam is to prorate it enough to force you to buy a new one. Sort of a built in loyalty discount. In many ways I think the Walmart type bikes tend to be easier to repair since they are mostly still using older "standards".

MarkusWandel 5y ago
I don't know about mountain bikes or modern carbon fiber marvels, but older "steelie" road bikes are amazingly upgradeable. The only thing that stops you from putting in a modern 11-speed compatible wheel is that the axle is 4mm longer, but that can be accommodated by "respacing" the frame. I've done it on one of my bikes, was a bit scary to do (you have to bend it out a lot more than 4mm to have it settle back to the right spacing) but in the end, easy. You'll have to keep the rim brakes, obviously, and front derailers aren't very standardized. But the rest of the drivetrain, right up to modern outboard bearing crank sets, will fit your 35 year old frame just fine. The cheap "MicroNew" shifters from Ali Express, while not as pretty as high end Shimano stuff, work fine - I've put a few thousand kilometers on the 7-speed and 8-speed version so far and they're comfortable and reliable if a bit "clicky". Modern stems and handlebars can be fitted to your old fork by inserting one of those quill/threadless adapters. All done with not much attention to weight, my modernized steel bikes weigh in around 12kg, which is heavy by carbon fiber standards, but not too bad.
type0 5y ago
> Trek gives people lifetime frame guarantees, but after 2-3 years they can't actually provide a replacement frame that works with the bike components. I threw away a perfectly repairable Trek bike recently because the parts were extremely expensive and hard to find. Now I know one more brand to stay away from buying.

MarkusWandel 5y ago

I don't know about mountain bikes or modern carbon fiber marvels, but older "steelie" road bikes are amazingly upgradeable. The only thing that stops you from putting in a modern 11-speed compatible wheel is that the axle is 4mm longer, but that can be accommodated by "respacing" the frame. I've done it on one of my bikes, was a bit scary to do (you have to bend it out a lot more than 4mm to have it settle back to the right spacing) but in the end, easy. You'll have to keep the rim brakes, obviously, and front derailers aren't very standardized. But the rest of the drivetrain, right up to modern outboard bearing crank sets, will fit your 35 year old frame just fine. The cheap "MicroNew" shifters from Ali Express, while not as pretty as high end Shimano stuff, work fine - I've put a few thousand kilometers on the 7-speed and 8-speed version so far and they're comfortable and reliable if a bit "clicky". Modern stems and handlebars can be fitted to your old fork by inserting one of those quill/threadless adapters. All done with not much attention to weight, my modernized steel bikes weigh in around 12kg, which is heavy by carbon fiber standards, but not too bad.

type0 5y ago

> Trek gives people lifetime frame guarantees, but after 2-3 years they can't actually provide a replacement frame that works with the bike components. I threw away a perfectly repairable Trek bike recently because the parts were extremely expensive and hard to find. Now I know one more brand to stay away from buying.